5 Things to know about Dolphins rookie TE Seydou Traore, from England

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5 Things to know about Dolphins rookie TE Seydou Traore, from England

Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post · Palm Beach Post

Wed, May 6, 2026 ·

3 min read

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The Miami Dolphins used a 5th round pick in the NFL Draft on Mississippi tight end Seydou Traore .

But it's not that simple.

Traore was born in France, grew up in London, moved to Clearwater, Florida, played at Arkansas State, transferred to Colorado and played at Mississippi State.

Most interesting? Traore is the first draft pick from the NFL's International Pathway Program.

5 things to know about Dolphins rookie Seydou Traore

Seydou Traore was a soccer goalkeeper

"I always say that a lot of the sports I played growing up gave me, kind of like, natural abilities, like me being a goalkeeper in football or soccer kind of gave me natural hand-eye coordination," Traore told local Dolphins media in a video call.

Traore's parents possess Algerian and Ivory Coast ancestry.

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tackle Kadyn Proctor poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) against the Oklahoma Sooners during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Oct 25, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) rushes the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)

Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) and offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) against the Oklahoma Sooners during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) catches a short pass and runs the ball during the game with Eastern Illinois at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
(Gary Cosby Jr., Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images)

Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tackle Kadyn Proctor during the NFL Draft prospects clinic at Hazelwood Green Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

March 25, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Offensive lineman Parker Brailsford blocks against fellow lineman Kadyn Proctor during Pro Day in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama.
(Gary Cosby Jr., Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

March 25, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor runs a drill for scouts during Pro Day in the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at the University of Alabama.
(Gary Cosby Jr., Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (OL41) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
(Jacob Musselman, Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images)

Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (OL41) at the vertical jump station during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (OL41) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Seydou Traore recruited by FSU from Clearwater Academy

"Coming to Clearwater, my mindset was really just to come in and dominate, so I wasn't really thinking too much about, like, 'Oh, this is different, this is…'" Traore said. "Listen, I'm here for a few months, I know what the goal is to get out of here so yeah, I came in with a mindset to dominate."

Seydou Traore worked NFL games in London

"I used to work those stadium games back when I was in London so I worked in Tottenham, worked in Wembley when the NFL games used to come over," Seydou said. "So for me to flip that around on its head and now I'm on the field and people are watching me would be amazing."

Sep 13, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Seydou Traore (8) reacts after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Alcorn State Braves at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

Seydou Traore has crazy testing results

Seydou Traore is build like a rock. Traore, 6-foot-3, 233 pounds, posted top-of-class 40-inch vertical jump and broad jump and an impressive 40-yard dash of 4.59 seconds.

"To be honest with you, I feel like I can contribute as soon as I get into a building," Traore said. "What that role is, I'm not sure, we'll figure that out, whether that's me running down on (special)teams, me making plays on offense; I'm not sure, but I feel like I can definitely come in and create value for the team immediately."

Seydou Traore wants to inspire British youngesters

"Not even just NFL Academy athletes, just young athletes in general, whether that's in the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, anywhere; just because I was inspired by someone else," Traore said. "The game got brought to me in my late teenage years, and what the game has done for me and the enjoyment I have playing the game and everything about it, is so much, so why would I not want to kind of share that and pass it on to a kid, just how it was passed down on to me? But yeah, if I had anything to say to them, dreams do come true, so put in the work and really pursue it."

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post . You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe . Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter . Help support our work by subscribing today.